Cervical consistency index as a valid predictor of spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in perinatal population, and its incidence has increased in the last decade. The current methods to predict if a pregnancy will end up in a spontaneous preterm birth have been demonstrated not to be accurate. Cervical consistency index by ultrasound is a new tool created with the aim to predict accurately if spontaneous preterm birth will occur or will not occur, but more studies need to be conducted in order to introduce it to regular clinical practice and pregnancy follow-up. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of the second-trimester cervical consistency index (CCI) to predict spontaneous preterm birth in pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN AND POPULATION It is a prospective cohort study including all kind of pregnancies between 19 − 22' WG, performed in the Hospital Universitari Doctor Josep Trueta. The sample size is of 419 women. METHODS The main variables will be CCI —calculated by doing the ratio between the anteroposterior diameter of the cervix at maximum compression and at rest— by ultrasound and the occurrence or not of spontaneous preterm birth. Patients will be followed up until delivery, so the maximum time will be 23 weeks